jacketsdb23 49 #51 April 26, 2013 QuoteJust remember that not all landing areas are the same. We don't have nice smooth grass like in Florida. Our landing area is very bumpy and you can't slide out a landing very well on it. I know of other DZs in Texas which have gopher holes and such around the landing area. I don't particularly want to try to slide out ( or run out!) a 15 mph downwind landing at many dropzones. Florida wouldn't be so bad! Very fair point. I guess I haven't jumped many places that would fall into that category, but I understand it.Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,090 #52 April 26, 2013 > Instead of "what is the highest wind speed I'm comfortable jumping in" as a cutoff >point, how about "What is the highest wind speed I'm comfortable landing down wind >in". This would go far to fix many problems. That's a very good question to ask oneself, and can save you a lot of pain. The one time it doesn't work is when you take off in 8mph winds and discover them blowing to 15 once you open. But as you said as long as there is still a place to land into the wind - perhaps away from the main landing area - that shouldn't be an issue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #53 April 26, 2013 Quote Maybe rethinking your wind limits is in order here. Instead of "what is the highest wind speed I'm comfortable jumping in" as a cutoff point, how about "What is the highest wind speed I'm comfortable landing down wind in". This would go far to fix many problems. True dat.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #54 April 26, 2013 QuoteInstead of "what is the highest wind speed I'm comfortable jumping in" as a cutoff point, how about "What is the highest wind speed I'm comfortable landing down wind in". I would contend that we should already be teaching that the first statement should already include the 2nd as one of the considerations. Though, on a windier day, the winds are typically steadier and it's not a real reach to say that I'll be landing into the wind for sure. I think the application of the concept is, I'll contend, really one that has to do with turbulence tolerance (totally different than just wind speed). Or even about winds on a wind that's 'shifty' day. If you get my drift.... Short hand - if it's steady, I'll jump up to 25mph, no problem. But if it's bumpy/shifty, that number goes WAY down. I can sit and watch the tandems jump for fun at that point...... edit: maybe it's the same thing, I guess if it's steady, I'm ok with the downwind landing, I won't like it, but I know how to ride it out. I'm not one of the guys that do it on purpose, so that's a different discussion. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 426 #55 April 26, 2013 Spaceland's rule - except in the well-separated pond area - is that everyone follows the tetrahedron. When the wind is too light to position it a staffer anchors it in the direction of the prevailing wind or in a default direction if winds are so light they wander or are absent. It works very well, but does require someone to be diligent about actively monitoring the winds.Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fasted3 0 #56 April 26, 2013 Spaceland is a great example of how to do it right.But what do I know? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
erdnarob 1 #57 April 27, 2013 You have a very good thread since landing in the best possible conditions is important. After all, people get hurt generally when they land. I found out that the best not too expensive way to indicate the wind is using a wind blade. Manufacturers of equipment will send them free of charges to a DZ. If you then attach to the wind blade tail a couple of long fluo fabric bands (25 feet long), that will give you the wind direction even when winds are calm. I have used a Vigil wind blade for years with those fabric bands (you can buy them in any fabric store for few dollars) and it works perfect. What I did is using a hot knife and cut the pieces of fabric to get 2 inches wide bands and simply attaching them with a double overhand knot.Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #58 April 28, 2013 QuoteI found out that the best not too expensive way to indicate the wind is using a wind blade....give you the wind direction even when winds are calm. Gotta disagree. Too much change going on with canopies in the sky promotes haphazard landing directions.....chaos.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #59 April 28, 2013 QuoteYou have a very good thread since landing in the best possible conditions is important. After all, people get hurt generally when they land. I found out that the best not too expensive way to indicate the wind is using a wind blade. Manufacturers of equipment will send them free of charges to a DZ. If you then attach to the wind blade tail a couple of long fluo fabric bands (25 feet long), that will give you the wind direction even when winds are calm. I have used a Vigil wind blade for years with those fabric bands (you can buy them in any fabric store for few dollars) and it works perfect. What I did is using a hot knife and cut the pieces of fabric to get 2 inches wide bands and simply attaching them with a double overhand knot. We have a couple set up this way here, and they work great. Even with two Otters, a Skyvan, and a Caravan running at the same time, or double jump runs, direction is rarely a problem. There is a skydiver whose company custom-prints blades, and you can get whatever you'd like. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #60 April 28, 2013 Funny how after all the talk about tetrahedrons and arrows being good as long as they don't change with canopies in the air ("So common sense is applied, it may change between take-off and exit, but its not suddenly changed mid-pattern"....and such other similar comments) we now have proponents of wind blades that do exactly that in even the lightest breezes. Wind blades are great if they are not swinging all around at the slightest change. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
